First new traffic enforcement cameras set to go live in Northampton

The first of ten new moving traffic enforcement locations being introduced across West Northamptonshire are set to go live in Northampton.

29 October 2026

Enforcement will begin first at Upton Valley Way East, at its junction with Banbury Lane, on Sunday 1 November, with the camera at Weedon Road - at the junction with Spencer Bridge Road - expected to follow once final testing has been completed.

The cameras form part of the Council’s expansion of moving traffic enforcement, aimed at improving road safety, reducing congestion and helping traffic move more freely.

Previous enforcement has seen more than 80 per cent of motorists who received a penalty charge notice avoid committing a further offence.

The Upton Valley Way camera will enforce the banned right turn at its junction with Banbury Lane, while the Weedon Road camera will enforce the yellow box junction at Spencer Bridge Road.

Introduction of the news sites follows detailed assessment work and a public consultation, with input from emergency services, bus operators and road safety teams.

The other locations being commissioned are:

Banned turns

• Collingwood Road, junction with St Matthew’s Parade

Yellow box junctions

• St Peter’s Way, junction with Weston Wharf
• Cliftonville Road, at the entrance to the hospital
• Harborough Road, at the Cock Hotel junction and the junction with the A5095
• Mere Way, opposite the fire station and at the Wootton Hall Park junction

No entry/one-way streets

• St Giles’ Square, between Wood Hill and Derngate

The other eight sites will become operational as the necessary infrastructure, testing and approvals are completed.

Cllr Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “The aim here is simple, we want our roads to be safer, and we want traffic to keep moving.

“Restrictions like banned turns and yellow boxes are there for a reason. When drivers ignore them, they can cause unnecessary congestion and delays and create risks for other road users.

“We’ve already seen that enforcement can change behaviour, with most drivers who receive a penalty not going on to offend again. That’s what we want to see from these new locations too.

“This is not about catching people out. It’s about encouraging people to follow the rules, reducing disruption and helping everyone get where they need to be.”

The Council will take the same approach used at some earlier enforcement sites. For the first six months, anyone committing a first offence will receive a warning rather than a fine, giving motorists time to become familiar with the restrictions.

Enforcement uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, with every recorded contravention reviewed by a trained officer before a decision is made on whether to issue a penalty charge notice.